Randomised Double-Blind Trial of Combination Antibiotic Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Table 1

Treatment and assessment regimes for patients in Group I (active treatment). Clindamycin infusions were given in 250 mL normal saline over one hour. Patients in Group II (placebo) received placebo infusions of normal saline and placebo tablets according to the same regime; they had the same assessment regime. bd: taken twice a day (morning and evening). × 3/wk: three times per week. Assessments: C, clinical; L, laboratory.

Time	Clindamycin infusion	Tetracycline	Assessment
			C	L
Day 1	300 mg	250 mg bd	+	+
Day 2	300 mg	none
Day 3	600 mg	250 mg bd
Day 4	600 mg	none
Day 5	900 mg	250 mg bd
Weeks 2–4	900 mg per week	250 mg bd × 3/wk
Weeks 5–8	900 mg fortnightly	250 mg bd × 3/wk
At week 9			+	+
Weeks 9–16	900 mg fortnightly	250 mg bd × 3/wk
At week 17			+	+
Weeks 17–24	900 mg fortnightly	250 mg bd × 3/wk
At week 25			+	+